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John Hampden Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) Exam Guide

Exam Information 5 min read
Table of contents
  1. About John Hampden Grammar School
  2. Key information for 2027 entry to John Hampden Grammar School at 11 Plus (11+)
  3. Admissions information for 2027 entry to John Hampden Grammar School at 11 Plus (11+)
  4. How can I register my child for the John Hampden Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) exams?
  5. What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for John Hampden Grammar School
  6. Examberry Papers

About John Hampden Grammar School

John Hampden Grammar School (JHGS) is a selective state boys’ grammar school for 11 to 18-year-olds in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The school, which was originally established as the School of Science and Art in 1893, looks after over 1,150 students.

The school offers a variety of extra-curricular activities such as debating, Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award, prayer, gardening, drama, sports, language, and music clubs. In addition, students of John Hampden Grammar School have access to a wide range of facilities including a main hall, sports hall, and astro pitch.

John Hampden Grammar School’s ethos is “Quit Ye Like Men” referencing one of St Paul’s letters (1 Corinthians 16:13-14: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong”). Although JHGS clarifies on its website that despite its motto’s origins, it is not a faith school; the motto was chosen in the 1920s when Britain was facing WW1 and the motto both then, and today feels appropriate for encouraging resilience in JHGS boys.

The school achieved some impressive results in 2022 with 70.8% of students achieving grades 9-7 at GCSE, and 46.6% of students achieving grades A*-A at A Level. In their most recent 2022 inspection, Ofsted reported that John Hampden Grammar was ‘Outstanding’ in all categories.

Key information for 2027 entry to John Hampden Grammar School at 11 Plus (11+)

Admissions information for 2027 entry to John Hampden Grammar School at 11 Plus (11+)

Registration is available on Buckinghamshire Council’s website till June. Your child will then be invited by email in August to the September 2026 test date.

For children who attend a state-funded Buckinghamshire primary school or Partner School, they will sit both the practice test and the Secondary Transfer Test (STT) in their school; all other children will sit both the practice test and the STT at a grammar school test centre. In the latter case, some test slots may be scheduled for after mid-September.

Results will be released in October and after receiving this information, you must submit a Common Application Form (CAF) to your home local authority which names ‘John Hampden Grammar School’.

Offers will be sent out on National Offer Day at the start of March 2027. It is important to note that there is a catchment area with priority given to applicants based on distance from the school.

How can I register my child for the John Hampden Grammar School 11 Plus (11+) exams?

If your child’s current primary school is in Buckinghamshire, they will be automatically registered for the 11+ exam. You, as their parent/guardian, will still need to submit a Supplementary Information Form (SIF) which you can download through the school website.

If your child currently lives outside of Buckinghamshire, you will need to register their place for the 11+ exam through the Buckinghamshire Council website. You must request more information through the admissions section, selecting the query option ‘I would like information about testing for September 2021 entry or later’ to access information and register your interest in the STT.

What is the 11 Plus (11+) entrance exam format for John Hampden Grammar School

The entrance exam is called the Secondary Transfer Test (STT) and consists of two 60-minute papers which are provided by GL Assessment. The test will measure the following skills:

Paper 1

  • English and verbal reasoning (50% weighting)

Paper 2

  • Non-verbal reasoning (25% weighting) – includes spatial reasoning
  • Maths (25% weighting)

The exam is administered by The Buckinghamshire Grammar Schools (TBGS), a consortium composed of the thirteen grammar schools in Buckinghamshire. 

A few days before your child takes the official exam, they will take a shorter practice test to help them to better understand the format of the entrance exam. As previously mentioned, Buckinghamshire primary school or partner school students will sit the test at their school but all other children will sit the test at a grammar school centre.

To be considered for admission into John Hampden Grammar School, your child must achieve a pass mark of 121 or higher. Notably, the assessments are age-weighted (based on the candidate’s age and the assessment date) to ensure all candidates are equally considered. 

You will be able to access these results in October through the Buckinghamshire Council website. The details you will need for the Transfer Test results are:

  • Your child’s student number (which will have been provided in a letter or email)
  • Your child’s surname
  • Your child’s date of birth
  • Your name and email address as the parent or legal guardian

Examberry Papers

The most effective way to prepare for John Hampden Grammar School’s 11+ entrance exam is to use practice tests written by experts.

Each of our practice tests:

For John Hampden Grammar School 11+ preparation, we recommend the following packs:

Key Recommendations

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Key Recommendations

Further Recommendations

Targeted Skills

Mock Exams

To find out more about Examberry’s in-person Buckinghamshire mock exams, please click here.

Tuition

To find out more about Examberry’s online tuition courses for Buckinghamshire 11+ preparation, please click here.

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